Creating Thompson, says Udoka, concerned making him uncomfortable. Developing, Thompson—who spent two seasons taking part in for Extra time Elite, the prep-to-pro program for youngsters seeking to bypass faculty—performed on the ball. It’s one thing the Rockets favored about him, a ability Stone says separated him from Ausar. As a rookie, Thompson performed extra off the ball. Udoka used him as a screener and as a curler. He plugged him in at power forward, forcing Thompson to learn how to defend bigs. “He didn’t know how to do a lot of these things,” says Udoka. “But he needed to become more well-rounded. And he’s a quick learner.” -via Sports Illustrated / April 18, 2025
